Volunteering brings personal fulfilment

It is people like Kim who make it possible for thousands of people in need to receive the support they desperately need each year.

She is among our generous volunteers working at 58 Dale St, Port Adelaide, providing emergency assistance to people doing it tough.

From food parcels to supermarket vouchers, clothing to swags, and referrals to other supports, the team makes sure everyone who steps inside the centre is heard – and helped.

“We deal with the immediate problem and then go onto the more serious problems,” Kim says.

“We get people come in who are homeless or on the verge of being homeless so we try to give them as much physical assistance as we can with food, clothing, sleeping bags – and then we also refer them to Western Adelaide Homelessness Services.

“If families are in situations with domestic violence we refer them to the Strengthening Families program.

“If someone is having trouble paying a bill we can refer them to our financial counsellors.”

Kim became a volunteer almost three years ago, after 20 years working in aged care took its toll on her back and left her unable to continue.

She says the role has given her purpose and a feeling of achievement.

“You feel a sense of accomplishment and wellbeing being able to be of assistance to people who are in quite dire circumstances,” she says.

“I think everybody that’s got the time or they are able to do volunteering work to give back to the community should give it a go.”

UnitingSA is always on the lookout for more volunteers in its emergency assistance team, as well as other areas such as aged care.

Nobody can do everything but everyone can do something.

UnitingSA relies on the generosity of donors to help deliver innovative programs and support for people in need across metropolitan and regional South Australia.

“For 12 months, my support worker in UnitingSA’s Building Family Opportunities program helped me apply for jobs and when I was close to giving up, they encouraged me. I now have a job in aged care and am just so grateful.”

Najeeba,Building Family Opportunities participant

UnitingSA, formerly UnitingCare Wesley Port Adelaide, was established in 1919 and provides housing, aged care and community services to support people across regional and metropolitan South Australia. More than 1000 employees and volunteers deliver high quality services to people from diverse backgrounds to realise UnitingSA's vision of a compassionate, respectful and just community in which all people participate and flourish.

UnitingSA acknowledges the traditional owners of country throughout South Australia, their spiritual heritage, living culture and our walk together towards reconciliation.